Turbine vane and wheel.



D. KEMBLE.

TUBBINE VANB AND WHEEL. APPLIUAIION FILED 1,111.13, 1910.

-974,496. Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

2 sums-511111111.

INvEH'roR DUSTON KET/:EDLE

QZ@ BY A'r'rYS.

D. KEMBLE.

. TURBINB 'VANBAND WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1a, 1910.

Patented NOVJ, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTEST 5MM 6.1@

DUSTON KEIVIBLE, F LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

TURBINE VANE AND WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 191e.

Application filed January 13, 1910. Serial No. 537,974.

i -To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUsToN KEMBLE, citizen of the United States, residing at Lakewood, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useiful Improvements in Turbine Vanes and Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to a novel .method 4of securing vanes in steam turbines,

' of one of the vanes and showing a vane therein. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a fragment or portion of turbine disk corresponding to Fig. l showing several vanes therein and several spaces for others removed. Fig.

' '8 is a plan view of Fig. 2 or of the portion lao of disk or wheel shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 1s a perspectlve view of one of the vanes alone, and Fig. 5 is a cross section of a modification of the Wheel, the same having a "double flange with vanes in both fianges.v

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one ofthe keys or pins for confining the vanes. Figs. 7 and 8 represent a further modification adapted to a drum type of turbine, and Fig.

9 is a modification of the locking bolt or key for the vanes, all as hereinafter fullyI described.

rThe novelty of the invention as thus shown and as I understand the same resides Afor the most part in the original and excep-` tional construction of the disk or wheel or other like embodiment to which the vanes are attached, directly or indirectly, and of the vanes themselves and the means for removably securing the same on the wheel or other carrying part as the drawings disclose, the object in any case being so to individualize the vanes that they may be separately dealt with in case of breakage or other cause for removal, and to provide means for securing the vanes which are simple and effective so that exchange can be easily and quickly made.

To these ends the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 consists in a disk or wheel D, which is preferably dished on one side to bring the vanes V approximately if 'not directly into radial lines, and the said wheel Vor disk has a peripheral flange 2 at right angles to its body and on the side of or over the dish therein. The vanes are secured in this flange, and to this end the said flange is provided with radial transverse slots 3 at regular intervals extending entirely across said flange from the edge thereof and of substantially key-hole shape in this instance, see Fig. 3. The Shanks 4 of the vanes are of a size and shape to fit snugly in the ortions of said slots occupied thereby, an to this end are rectangular in cross section and have flat sides fitting within Vthe parallel side edges of the said slots the full de th of said Shanks. Otherwise the said shan (s are upset at their ends and sides to provide parallel side shoulders or ribs 5 adapted to rest against the inside of flange 2 while the shoulders G at the base of the vanes bear upon the outside of said `fiange or rim, thus securing the vane firmly in its slot and especially fastening and holding it against axial rotation and centrifugal force when the wheel is running at high speed. In other words the vanes are engaged in said slots for all purposes of operation by merely sliding them laterally into place, and are removably confined or locked by means of a suitable pin or key, 8, say as shown in Fig. G, driven from the inside into the rounded or substantially circular outer drilled portion a; of the said slot or slots 3 and with the head of said pin on the inside of the rim, which prevents its flying out at high speed. The said pins are adapted to fit so snugly in their seats against the edge of the vane shanks that the vanes require no other means of fastening, but, obviously, are also easily removed when the vane, also is made free vfor removal. Thus any particular vane can be easily taken out and replaced by another if desired without disturbing any of the others, and the construction of the wheel can be made as strong and serviceable in every part as may be required.

In Fig. 5 I show a modification of the disk or wheel D in which there is a flange 10 at either side corresponding in detail with the single or one side flange in Fig. 1, and in which the body of the disk is straightinstead of being dished. Both said flanges are equipped with vanes V, and the only material difference is that there are two circles of vanes on this wheel instead of one. Otherwise the construction is the same or similar in Fig. 5 as in the foregoing views and this applies to the vanes and their attachment to or in the rims 10. Of course there might be more or less variation. from the exact details shown without departing from the spirit of the invention, but the present means for setting the vanes being so exceedingly simple and convenient I can see no advantage in suggesting evenl a slight change therein unless possibly in the shape of the key or bolt S for locking them in place. This member might have an angular or even an elliptical or equivalent shape in cross section and which of course would require a corresponding change in the entrance portions of slots 3 wherein the key is located,

but the shanks of the vanes would not inA that c a's'e be changed nor their manner of flastening' by wedging at the mouth of the sot.

In Figs` 7 and 8 I show a further modification of the invention', but which retains all the essential principles of the foregoing examples thereof. However, in these views the construction is more particularly adapted to a drum than to al wheel having one or more series of vanes about the same. The portion indicated by C may therefore be regarded as a portion of a cylindrical drum of any preferred size and in which as many series of circumferentially arranged vanes V may be employed as the size of the drum will accommodate, say three, four, or more. To these ends I show a series of rings R sleeved upon the drum although they may be integral therewith and of such radial depth as to give them the requisite strength and to constitute supports for the vanes which are fastened therein in substantially the same manner as in Figs. 1 and 5, the only difference being such as the use of a series of rings arranged side by side and the supports for the vanes thereof may require. Thus, the said rings are each constructed with annular flanges 11 provided with slots 12 open on the periphery thereof and across the edge of the said flange', as in Figs. 1 and 5, and in this instance open on theiry inside to an annular recess or` channel beneath said flangev and adapted to provide space for the heads 5Yof the vane shank and the heads h of the locking plugs or keys 17. This peculiar formation of the ring leaves a substantially L shaped portion, Fig. 7, solid or uncut, and the base or inner portion of the said rings extends laterally from the ange 11 and on the same side of the ring to a width approximately equal to one-fourth the base width of the entire ring so as to pro-` vide space for the segments or fillers 16 which are engaged about said extension and adapted to keep the vanes and plugs in working position, laterally. However, and antecedent to these segments or fillers, it should be stated that I preferably use square headed plugs or keys 17, Fig. 9, which are evt/19s interposed between said segments 16 and the Shanks 4 of the vanes, the bodies of said plugs enteringthe slots 12 next behind said Shanks` and filling the otherwise unfilled por-' tions of said slots and the heads it thereof coming within the annular space 14 as above described and confining the plugs againstV centrifugal force. This fills each slot 12 with the shank of a single vane and a corresponding plug or wedge, and then by inserting the segments 16 in the space about the side extensions of the base of the rings and the back wall of the next ring the corresponding vanes and plugs will be locked firmly in working position. The said segments may havev greater or less lengt-h so as to overlap several vanes, and if a given vane is to be removed for repairs or the like the segment confining the same is first removed and then the individual plug, and' thereupon the said vane is free to be taken out.

Fastening bolts or screws 18 are engagedV through the said segments and the corresponding threaded holes 15 in the extensions of the rings to hold the segments in place, and said segments are made preferably of some light metal, say aluminum. Screws 18 may also engage drum C. Segments 1G bear laterally against plugs or wedges 17 to hold them and vane shanks in place, and these are removed laterally when segments 16 are removed. The segments 16 may also be arranged to cap the edge of the flange between the vanes if so desired.

In Fig. 7 the stationary parts of the turbine are also represented, the vanes and rings and fastening devices being counterparts of those described for drum C and being designated by primed like letters of reference.

What I claim is:

1. In turbines, a vane carrying member having radially disposed slots, vanes provided with headed Shanks engaged in said slots and locking plugs for said shanks filling the outer portion of each slot.

2. A vane carrying member having radially disposed slots in its periphery open laterally, vanes having Shanks of less lateral depth than said slots engaged therein and plugs filling said slots behind said shanks and locked therein.

3. A vane carrying member provided with an annular flange at its periphery having open radial slots at intervals, in combination with vanes having headed Shanks engaged in said slots and headed plugs occupying said slots respectively and locking said vanes in place.

4. A vane carrying member having a flange at its periphery provided with radial slots transversely across said flange and open at the edge thereof, vanes having 'an' guiar Shanks in said slots and locking keys for the vanes in the otherwise open portions of said slots Constructed to engage beneath the said flange to avoid being thrown out by centrifugal force.

5. A vane `carrying member having a flange about its periphery with slots at intervals across the same to the base of the flange, in combination with vanes having angular shanks provided with portions engaged beneath said flange to avoid being thrown off by centrifugal force and removable keys in said slots looking said vanes in place laterally.

G. A vane carrying member having radially disposed slots at intervals open laterally from the side of said member and at the periphery thereof, in combination with vanes having angular shanks provided with enlargements at their sides and ends adapted to hold said vanes against centrifugal force and a key for each vane onstructed to be locked in said slot and to lock the vane therein laterally.

7. A vane carrying member having a series of radial slots at its periphery open at one side and adapted to secure vanes there in, in combination with vanes having headed Shanks of greater radial depth than said slots adapted to avoid being cast ofi' by centrifugal force, and locking plugs adapted to bear against the edges of said shanks and provided with enlargements on their inner ends inside from said slots.

8. In turbines, a vane supporting member having a' lateral flange provided with radial slots, in combination with vanes having shanks adapted to be entered laterally in said slots and means to close said slots at the side of said shanks adapted to be removed singly with each vane.

9. In turbines, a vane supporting ring having radial slots at its side, vanes having shanks adapted to enter said slots laterally, and locking members for said vane, and shanks comprising individual plugs to bear against said vanes and segments to bear against said plugs.

l0. In turbines, a vane support comprising flanges provided with radial slots, vanes having Shanks seated within said slots, locking segments for said vanes interposed between pairs of said flanges, and means to secure the segments removably in place to permit individual vanes to be removed without disturbing adjoining vanes.

11. In turbines, an axially curved vane adapted to be removably mounted upon a turbine member having a headed shank of less width throughout its length than said curved vane and of substantially rectangular cross section that is contained Within the cross sectional area of the curved portion of the said vane.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence ol two witnesses.

DUSTON KELNIBLE. Iitnesses E. M. lfisnnn, F C. MUssUN. 

